Film 'the big one' as proof of catch

By BOB SALERNO

Landing one large fish is the thrill of a lifetime for anglers. The hookup, battle and eventual landing become forever notched in our memories.

Today as anglers are faced with more and more regulations and depleted fish stocks, it makes sense to preserve a great catch on film and release the trophy to fight again. Immortalizing an angling achievement by taking quality photographs is not difficult, nor does the angler need professional-grade equipment -- only a small amount of commitment. Most of the cameras on the market are simple to use and produce superior images, if the person behind the lens takes some time to plan the shot.

The first step is to always carry a camera and film on all of your outings. If the camera is left at home or in the car, or film is forgotten, the opportunity for a great shot will be missed.

The next consideration is to safeguard the camera and film from the sun, sand and water. Those who fish in saltwater especially need to protect their camera from salt spray. A small point-and-shoot camera needs nothing more than a self-sealing clear plastic bag. Waterproof or underwater cameras or housings are another option, but the steep price tags may deter the casual photographer. Let the value of your equipment determine if such an investment is necessary.

Point-and-shoot 35mm cameras are probably the best all around system for simple outdoor shots. Most makes feature zoom with wide-angle lens and a built in electronic flash that produce images suitable for publication. A couple of manufacturers offer models that are water resistant in an almost indestructible case. If the camera is accidentally doused with salt spray or mud, it can be rinsed off easily with fresh water. This style camera is a great reasonably priced piece of equipment for the fisherman who wants to have a camera along but doesn't want to worry about subjecting it to the elements.

For the anglers who want to get serious about their photos, they may opt for a 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera that accepts interchangeable lenses. Although SLRs will outperform any point- and-shoot camera, the downside is they are bulky and expensive.

The most widely used film is 35mm format. Most cameras are designed to use this film and it's available virtually everywhere. Use the slowest speed film that will do the job. For most general outdoor photography ISO 100 film gives the best results. Higher speed films are better in low-light conditions, but enlargements tend to be "grainy" for prints larger than 5x6. Most of the time fishermen have plenty of available light, but for first light or dusk shots use a flash. Print film is fine for personal use, but if you're planning to sell your photographs or show them to audiences such as your fishing club, then upgrade to quality slide film.

Anglers who are computer savvy may want to consider digital cameras. The unique advantage is that the photograph can be electronically altered, e-mailed and used on a web site.

The next two important considerations for good photographs are composition and lighting. Good composition requires getting what you want in the photo and keeping what you don't want out of it.

When photographing anglers fighting fish or holding fish, get close to the subject and fill the frame with the important features. Being too far away is one of the common mistakes photographers make.

Let's say your buddy just caught the biggest striper of his life. When he hangs the picture on his wall, will he care what shoes he was wearing that day or how big the fish was? Get close, show the fish, the lure in his mouth, and your buddy's deliriously happy grin. These are the important elements and the rest should be eliminated.

Always check the picture frame before pressing the shutter. Make sure models don't have fishing rods growing out of their heads. Avoid busy backgrounds, try and isolate your subject against something plain.Water and sky are the simplest.

Pay attention to the direction and quality of light, which affect exposure and lend a certain mood to the subject.Many good shots are ruined because of the direction of light or shadows that block out the subject.Pay attention to shadows caused by hats because they tend to block out a subject's face.

Overcast conditions sometimes yield the best photographs.

Don't be afraid to shoot film. Sometimes it takes several tries to achieve that perfect shot. Photograph anglers fighting the fish, landing the fish, holding the fish and releasing the fish.

The last piece of advice concerns the welfare of the fish. Keeping fish out of the water while the camera is located or loaded will decrease the odds of the fish living after it's released. A trophy fish that has just fought for its life is exhausted. Keep it in the water until everything is ready, then work fast to make sure that the fish will live to thrill another angler.

Always carry a camera. Your photographs could wind up on the cover of a magazine, or better yet, on a best friend's wall.

AREA CONDITIONS: The rain of the past week took its toll on angler participation. Trout fishing remains good in the Farmington. Midge and caddis are the flies to match.

Housatonic anglers are hooking some trout, but the smallmouth bass fishing is as good as it gets. Woolly Buggers and crayfish imitations are two of the top fish catchers. Largemouth's are hitting well up on Highland Lake and Lake Lillononah. East Twin also has good bass fishing and rainbow trout are taking trolled lures and bait in 25 to 30 feet of water.

The saltwater scene has also felt the effects of an east wind and rain. The area around Race Rock has been very hot lately for both stripers and blues. A massive school of half-dollar sized butterfish has bluefish and stripers surface-feeding to the delight of fly and light-tackle enthusiasts.